History

In 2003, Make the Connection! Hispanic Business Expo was launched as a unique opportunity for corporations and government agencies to interact, build relationships and “Make the Connection” with thousands of prominent Hispanic business leaders and entrepreneurs. Today the Hispanic Business Expo is one of the largest Hispanic business events in the country. In 1986, HACE launched the first Career Conference for Hispanic professionals in Chicago. Today, HACE holds events throughout the U.S. to support Hispanic professional development and career advancement. This year, IHCC and HACE have joined forces to host the Make the Connection! Business Expo and Career Conference.

Purpose

The Make the Connection! Hispanic Business Expo & Career Conference is designed to: Promote the growth and investment of Hispanic businesses. Help create and foster relationships to promote contracting opportunities for Hispanic businesses with corporations and governmental agencies. Enable corporations to reach a large number of prominent Hispanic business leaders in the area. Create a forum for discussion of emerging business issues affecting Hispanic businesses. Supplier Diversity Interact with some of the nation’s largest Hispanic-owned businesses and build partnerships to help meet supplier diversity goals. Promote products and services to individuals who are representative of the upscale Hispanic market. Support economic development efforts among the nation’s fastest growing minority group and enhance Hispanic buying power. Connect Hispanic professionals to career opportunities with premier employers. Enable Hispanic professionals to grow and strengthen their professional networks and build ties with corporations and government agencies. Allow Corporate Diversity professionals to build relationships with the growing Hispanic professional community.

Exhibition

The exhibition is the centerpiece of the Hispanic Business Expo & Career Conference, which has been specifically designed to promote maximum interaction between participating companies, potential customers, candidates and/ or vendors. This high volume, high-traffic event also provides outstanding opportunities for branding, sampling, product testing and market research opportunities. The event includes a special VIP session that allows corporate sponsors to interact informally with key leaders. Also, the Hispanic Business Expo enables corporations to set up one-on-one procurement sessions with some of the nation’s largest and emerging Hispanic-owned businesses and interview sessions with Hispanic candidates.

In 2009, more than 5,000 registered participants came from 12 different states and four countries to participate in the Hispanic Business Expo.